Mosaic Teaching Guide
7 June 09

Teaching Series: Of Spirit and Flesh (1)
Acts 1-3

1. Some Random Introductory Thoughts
1. Of Spirit and Flesh
1. The way of Jesus is essential the way of Spirit and Flesh.
2. This is a play in which we are invited to become actors ourselves . . . the story continues and we are a part of it!  (N.T. Wright).
2. 1.1-26
1. Introduction and summary
2. Waiting for the promise
3. Question as to the restoration of Israel
1. “Are you going to restore the Kingdom to Israel now?”
2. Instead of a renewal which would form them as the re-stored Israel, waiting for God to become their king as so many Jews of the day had hoped, they would experience a renewal which would form them as the restored humanity, celebrating the fact that God was becoming king of the whole world, and knowing that as a reality inside their own selves (NT. Wright).
4. Ascension to heaven
1. Jesus enters the created realm of God
5. Waiting and praying in the upper room (vv. 12-13)
6. The 12 are restored, Peter takes the lead (22-26)
3. 2.1-42
1. The Spirit from heaven fills the disciples and they speak
2. A bewildered and diverse crowd gathers as they hear the Galileans speaking in their mother tongues.
3. Peter explains what’s happening
1.  “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh . . . then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
4. The crowd responds: “What should we do?
5. About 3000 people devote themselves to learning the way of Jesus.
6. Reflection
1. Who is this Peter? 
4. 2.43-47
1. First description of the Christian community
1. “signs and wonders”
2. “all things in common”
3. worshiped in the Temple together often
4. shared fellowship in homes
5. grew rapidly
5. 3.1-26
1. Peter heals a man in the name of Jesus
1. The demonstration of the power of Jesus’ name took place, not in the Temple, but outside the gate.
2. Peter explains what has just happened
3. Peter calls the observers to repent
1. This will lead to ‘the time of universal restoration’
2. Peter reminds them “You are the descendents . . . of the covenant God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘and in your descendents all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (3.25).
4. You can be a part of the story.
6. Acts: An Invitation to Live in a God-Breathed World
1. The story of Acts is really an invitation to see the world through the story of Jesus. 
2. Do you live in a world in which there is space and time for the Spirit to lead you and encourage you and refresh you?
3. Are you participating in the story of Jesus? 

 

 

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